Stop and turn signal



Feb. 12, 1935. F. MAMlYA STOP AND TURN SIGNAL Filed April 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. MAMIYA 1 STOP AND TURN SIGNAL Feb. 12, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1953 Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES STOP AND TURN SIGNAL Fusajiro Mamiya, Los'Angeles, Calif. r

Application April 28, 1933, Serial No. 333,323 7 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle carried signals 'for indicating the contemplated'turns and stops, and more particularly resides in the provision of an efficient fluid operated actuator for such signals.

Oneof the objects of the invention is to provide a signal such as described which will be subject to ready installation on automobiles of various makes as well assimple, compact, inexpensive, effective at night as well as in day time, and capable of easy and accurate operation without tending to distract the driver. I

Another and important object is the provision of a fluid operated actuator which is comprised of comparatively few simply constructed parts in a decidedly compact arrangement making'for inexpensiveness of construction, ease of installa tion, and reliability of performance in the signal as a whole. a A'further object is to provide a signal such as described, that is subject to operation by making a simple connection of the actuator to the intake manifold of the vehicle engine.

' Yet another object is to provide in a signal of the character described, a combined electric switch and fluid control valve which is of simple compact and inexpensive form as well as reliable in operation to control the movements and illumination and also indicate the positions of the signaling member. v r

The invention possesses other objects and features'of advantage, some or which, withthe foregoingQwill be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention'which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and formingpart of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the-showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forthin the claims.

Referring tothe drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective. view of an automobile equipped with the signal of this invention;

Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the control valve;

Fig. 6 isv a cross section taken on the plane of line 66 of Fig. 5; V

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane ofline 7'7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 6; i Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the vacuum operated actuator. 1. Y

As shown in the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the invention comprises acasing 10 secured by an adjustable bracket 11 to a side of an automobile as shown at A. Arranged to swing from concealed position within the casing to its various signal positions and vice versa is a semaphore signaling arm 12 capable of simulating the standard stop and turn signals, as shown in Fig. 1. This arm is hollow and has suitably. colored sides 13 of glass or the like,v illuminated by an electriclight 14 contained in the arm whereby the signals may be effectively displayed at night. Y

'A pivotal mounting for the arm ,12 is madeby forming annular bearing flan es 14' at the margins of openings 15 in the opposed faces of the casing 10 and extending the flanges into a tubular portion 16 of the arm as shown in Fig. 2. Covering said openings 15 are lenses either plain or colored and which are illuminated by the light arranged to be in part opposite said lenses. By this illuminating arrangement the effective dis--. play of the various signals, particularly at night, is assured.

It should be noted that the signal arm 12 has an arcuateextension-l'l which is overlapped by the uppercurved portion 18 of the casing 10 at all times whereby to form a weatherproof 'top for said casing and protect the working parts interiorly thereof.

The fluid actuator 20 is mounted in the casing 10 and comprises what, may be termed a simple vacuum or fluid engine, characterized by a closed cylinder 21 in which a piston 22 is mounted for reciprocal movement. Extending from the piston out through a stuffing box 23 is a piston rod 24 formed in part as at 25 to serve as a rack'bar. This rack bar portion 25 is engaged with a gear segment 26 formed or otherwise provided on or as a part of the tubular end portion 16 ofthe signal arm. This arrangement, as seen with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, provides for swinging the signal arm into'and out of its operative positions upon appropriate movement of the piston 22. In the present instance the piston is arrangedto be actuated by creating in the cylinder 21 a differ ential in fluid pressures, said cylinder being communicated as will be hereinafter disclosed with the atmosphere and with the intake manifold four conduitsor passages 31 formed as separate I passages in a solidpipe like member 32 which is connected by suitable fittings '33 to the casing 10. The member 32 is joined. toacombinedcon- I the engine is effective through the pipe line (not shown) of the automobile internal combustherein, each port being closed by the piston when the latter is opposite it, whereby the piston acts also as a valve. Leading from these ports are trol valve and switch 34 which isrpreierab'ly mounted on the steering column Bas' shown in Fig. 1. Extending from thevalve 34 to the intake manifold of the vehicle engine '(not shown) is a pipe line 35 whereby the suction action of and passages 31' to permit of operation of the piston {22 in the cylinder 21, said action being under control oi the valve 34.

The valve =34 comprises a casing 37- having a stationary valve plate 38arranged as a horizontal partition therein; Arranged in anarcuate row in the plate 38 are openings 40, 41, 42-and 43 which are connected by short tubes 44 with the passages 31. A rotatable valvepl'ate 45- is mounted on the'plate '38 being guided by a pin 46 which is engaged in a slot 47 in the plate 38. A leaf spring 48 is fixed at one end to the rotatable plate'45 and at its other end carries a" pin 49' the top wall 50 of the'casing. i 'The spring forces the plate 45 intoclose engagement with thestationary plate 38. Depressions 51' are providedin said top wallto receive the pin whenthe valve is in-its operative positionswhereby toreleas'ably holdthe valve in-the desired positions. A rotatable yoke 52e'mbraces the spring 48 and has arranged to frictionally engage the under side of .a pintle, 53 which isextended out through the top wall 50. Fixed on the pintle 53 is an operating handle54 which when turned rotates'the valve plate 45 through the driveconnection consisting of :-the yoke 52' and spring 48.

In the center of the stationary plate 38 is an opening 55' which registers with the suction pipe I li11e. 35"and with one end of "a groove 56 formed in the under side of the rotatable valve plate 45 groove extendsradially whereby itsouter end is disposed to register with the openings 40, 41, 42 and 43 I upon appropriate turning of the plate '45. r v I Within'the valve casing is a normally closed switch 57 controlling the light 14 in the signal The contacts 58 and 59 of the switch are engaged at all times except when thesignal is in an inoperative position at which time'the pin 46 (see Fig. 8)' engages and holds contact 59 out'of 'engagementwith contact 58. Thus it is seen that .uponmoving'the valve to operate the signal the switch 57 is closed'wherebyto-light.

the light 14 in thesignal arm. r As a means for communicating the cylinder 21 with the atmosphere the valve plate 45 has small.

openings 61 and 62-disposed so as to register with the openings40, )41, 42 and 43. The valve casing open to theatmosphere through a vent '63, 'It is now seen that when the openings 61 and 62 are in registration with certain of the openings 40, 41, 42and 43 and the-latter are communicated I through the passages 31 tothe cylinder 21, said cylinder will be open to the atmosphere, and permit the higher pressure atmosphere to operate the 'piston 22 as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

1 Operation Assuming that the signal arm is in. concealed position in the casing' l'o, the operating handle 54- is in a position correspondingto the signal arm. To now make a stop signal'gthe operator'moves the handle54 to the left until it assumes approximately the position the signal arm will take in making a stop indication. I

On this movement of the handle thevalve disc 45 is'turned to bring the groove 56 into registra- -tion with the opening'41 in theplate 38. This establishes communication of the-cylinder 21 with the intake manifold of the engine (not shown), through pipe line 35, opening 55, groove 56, opening 41', passage 31, .andcylindery -porti 28;..and 7 thereby creates a sub-atmospheric pressure in said cylinder; below thepiston 22, which latter is at theytop of the cylinderp" When the valvejis in the position just described'whereby to-eifect tration with the valvegopenin'g 40;;which, it is noted I controls the cylinderport .27- at the j top of the cylinder. flhu's it-is seenthat the atmosphere willenter' the cylinder through the port 27 abovethe piston and this higherpressure 'fluid becomes effective to move the piston downward until the piston covers the port 28, at which time the piston movement ceasesdue to the fact that the means .for creating sub-atmospheric pressure is removed and the pressure below the piston. reaches that of the-atmosphere. The restoration of atmospheric pressurebeneaththe pistcnwhen the latter closes port 28 is provided through port 29, passage 31 leading from said'port valveopen-g -ing 42and vent opening 62 tration with said opening. I Upon this dow nward movement of piston 22the piston rod rack bar operates through the gear segment; on the signal arm.,to move the signal arm into the stop position-shown inqfulllines in Fig. 1 It should benoted that-the pistonand signal parts will maintainthrough friction the positions to which they are moved;v The switch 57 closes upon. movement of the valve-to a signalling position and remains closed until; the sigwhich-is thenjin regisi- I the stop signal, theve'ntf opening 61;is iin regisnal is moved backvinto non-signalling positiong and the light 14therefore eifectivelydisplays the 7 signal as hereinbeforenoted; V I I g I To restore the signal tench-signaling position the operator moves'the hand1e54 to the right to a position perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the automobileandthe valve plate45is'moved to bringthegroove 56'into registration with valve opening 40; This creates. I a fsub.-atmospheric pressure through the cylinder port 27,. the passage 31 leading from said port, valve opening'40.

groove 56 openin'g'55 pipe line 35 leading" to intake manifold. As soon-as the pressure" be;

comes sub-atmospheric above the piston 22 the' atmospheric pressure beneath the pistommov'es the piston upwardly and thereby restores the signal arm'to concealed positionfi 'Whenthe piston is thus moved it covers port 27' and thereby destroys the negative pressure.= I

It should be noted that at" times during operation of the valve certainfportions of the cylinder' are vented to the atmosphere through vent ports-61 and 62 at the same time a sub-atmospheric pressure is being created in saidicylinder portions. The creation of sub-atmospheric pres sures is made possible under these conditions since the vent openings are comparatively small and but a slight pressure differential is necessary to effect movement of the piston. In other words the leaks resulting from the vents 61 and 62 are so small as to be negligible as against an evacuation of air from the cylinder sufficient to create a sub-atmospheric pressure therein.

It is now seen that the valve may be selectively operated to bring the groove 56 into registration with any of the openings 40, 41, 42, and 43 and to thereby cause the desired signal. When the valve is moved to bring the opening 42 into play the negative pressure is effective through the cylinder port 29 and the piston moves sufficient to bring the signal arm to the horizontal left turn position. When the valve opening 43 is brought into registration with groove 56, then the sub-pressure is created through port 30 and the piston moves sufficient to bring the signal arm to the right turn position.

It should be noted that the piston operates in the same manner as described in connection with the right turn signal and that the signal arm may be brought back into concealed position by simply turning the valve to bring the opening 40 and port 27 into play as described hereinbefore.

It should be noted that the combined switch and control valve operates to simultaneously control the electric light and the operation of the vacuum actuator in a most efficient manner. Also the handle of the control valve in assuming in ncn-signaling position, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, a rack bar connected directly with said piston and extended upwardly out of said cylinder and meshing with said segment, and means for creating variational fluid pressures in said cylinder.

2. In a signal, a casing, a signal member pivoted at one end within the upper end of said casing and arranged to swing into out of concealed position within said casing, a gear segment carried by said member, a cylinder fixed immovably to the rear wall of said casing below the plane of the pivotal mounting of said member and disposed to act as a stop for the member when the latter is in concealed position, a piston in said cylinder, a rod fixed to said piston,a stufiing box out through which said rod extends, and rack teeth on said rod meshed with said gear segment. I

FUSAJIRO MAMIYA. 

